Gas-engine.



H. J. HICK.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2a. 19m.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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H. J. HICK.

GAS ENGINE.

MPLlcAnoN FILED Nov. 23, |914.

lzlvnwd Nm'. 2U, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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HARRY J'. HICK, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO.

GAS-ENGINE.

Be it known that I, HARRY d. HICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engines, of whicht-he following is a specification. Y

' The invention relates to internal combustion engines receiving fuel inthe form of gas or vaporized gasolene combined with air from aearbureter or other source of supply; and the object of the presentinvention is to provide automatic means for gradually supplyingadditional air to the engine in proportion to its requirements atvarying speeds.

The gas or air which is supplied to an engine from a carburetor is mixedin proper proportions for the requirements of the engine at the startingand duringcomparatively slow speeds, when the .mixture in the combustionchamber is not subject to as high pressure and temperatureljas prevailsduringthe higher speeds when the engine becomes heated; and accordingly,there is not sufficient air in the mixture to cause complete combustionwhen the engine is running at the higher speeds and the ignition takesplace more frequently and with less duration. f

. This diiculty is overcome, and additional air is admitted into theengine in exact proportion to its requirements at increasing speeds, bymeans of one or more inlet tubes having series of' graduated inlet portstherevalve sleeve, which is ada ed to be shifted by centrifugal force tosuccessively open the apertures 1n proportion to the increas- -ing speedof the engine.

A convenient embodiment of the inven tion as applied to an existing typeof env gine, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming parthereof, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of an automobileengine, showing the improved air governor applied thereto;

Fig. 2, a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3, a side elevation, partly in Section, of the centrifugal airgovernor, showing tho valve sleeves thrown outward to open all the inletports; and Fig. 4, an end elevation, partly in section, of thecentrifugal air governor, show- Speccation of Letters Patent.

ring controlled Patented NOV. 26, 1918.

Application tiled November 23, 1914. Serial No. 873,436.

ing the valve sleeves heldinward to close all the inlet ports.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The type of engine employed for illustrating the invention, includes thecarburetcr .1, the intake manifold 2, the cylinders 3, and the exhaustmanifold 4; and for the purpose of the present invention the air pipe 5is provided, which preferably leads o1' opens at one end through theelbow 7, into the inlet G of the intake manifold through which themixture of gas and air is received from the carburetor. The air pipe 5is connected at the other end with the tubular bearing bar 8, by meansof the sleeve coupling 9, which bearing bar is supported by the bracket10 on one side of the engine.

The governor wheel 11 is rotatably 1nounted by its hub 12 on the freeend of the bearing bar 8, between the collar 13 thereon and the washer14 retained by the nut l5 on the bolt 1G provided on the closed end 17of the bearing bar; and as shown, the pulley wheel `is geared to the fanshaft 18 of the engine by means of the belt. 19, so that the rotation ofthe pulley wheel is coordinated with they rotation of the engine.'

One or more an' inlet tubes 20 are radially secured ou the hub of thegovernor' wheel,

'two of these tubes being preferably employed dian'ietrically opposite,as shown, so that one will balance the other; and the in ner ends ofthese tubes communicate with the annular port 21 formed in the hub ofthe pulley wheel. which port in turn comniunicates with one or moreradial ports 22 provided in the tubular bearing bar S, therebveonnnunicating with the cavity S there of and thence through the airpipe 5 into the intake manifold of the engine.

The outer ends of the inlet tubesv 20 are preferably extended in theform of the solid stems 23, which have the adjusting nuts 24 and locknuts 25 on their outer ends; and the intake tubes are provided withslide valves which may be the valve sleeves 26 having the enlarged orweighted outer ends 27, which valve sleeves are normally held inward byaction ofthe coil springs 28, located around the stem between the sleeveand the adjusting nut, so that the inner ends 29 of the valve sleeveswill contact with the annular facet 3() formed on the hub of the govlosi an entire exclusion of the vand the parts ot the ernor wheel aroundthe inletv tube. These valves are operated outwardly by centrifugalforce as the speed of the' engine increases, and for this reason may betermed centrifugal valves.

Series of inlet ports 3l are provided alongl one or more sides of eachinlet tube, Which ports are preferably graduated in size from acapillary opening at the periphery of the hub, to a much largeropeningat the outer end of the tubej and when more than one series ofportsis provided on each tube, the openings thereof are staggered withreferenee to each othei-,so as to permit of a more gradual admission ofadditional air into the tube by the operation of the centrifugal valve.

It will be understood that it is desirable, if not absolutely necessary,to gradually introduce and increase the supply of addi` tional air, soas to prevent asudden inrush of air and a resulting checking or stoppingto an interference with or suction of fuel from the carbureter or othersource of supplv; and this is accomplished by the use ot' slide valvesfor controlling lthe graduated inlet ports. as herein described. asdistillguished from a disk or other valve in which an opening ofsubstantial area is formed b v the init ial opening movement of thevalve.

l`he valve sleeve 26 normally covers and eloses all the inlet ports. asshown in Fig. 4. and the energy oi' the spring 2S is so regulated b v anadjuslment of the nui "24, Ythat the valveI sleeve is held' in thenormal closed position during the ystarting` and the slow speeds oi' theengine when additional air is not. required. The strength of the springgovernor are .so proportioned, that when the engine is running at. itsmaximum speed. the valve sleeve will he thrown outward Irv eentrifugall'orce to nncover and open all the inlet ports ot' the inlet tube. asshown in Fig. 3: and it is evident that duringr the intermediate speedsIot' the engine the valve ysleeves will be loeated in vai-.vingpositions. therebvuncovering and of the engine due opening acorresponding number of the graduated ports to admit the amount ofadditional air which is required for a coniplete eombustion of the gasin the engine.

I claim: i

1. An engine, means for supplying a. gaseous fuel to the engine, andmeans for supplying air to the engine including a tubular bar having aradial port therein, a hub geared to the engine journaled on the batrand having an annular port therein registering with the radial port, aradial inlet tube on the hub communicating lwith the annular port andhaving an inlet port therein, a valve on the inlet tube normally closingthe inlet port and adapted to be thrown centrifugally to open the Sauml:2. An engine, means yflor -girpplying a gaseous fuel to the engine, andmeans for supplying air to the engine including a tubular bar having aradial port therein. a hub geared to the engine journaled on the bar andhaving an annular port therein registering with the radial port, a pairof diametrically opposite inlet tubes on the hub communicating with theannular port and having inlet ports therein, and valves on the inlettubes normally closing the inlet. ports and adapted .to be throwneentrifngally to open the same.

3. A11 engine, means for supplying -a gaseous fuel to the engine, andmeans' for supplying air to the engine inehuling a, tubular bar having*a radial port therein. a hub geared to the engine jonrnaled on the barand having an annular port therein.' registering with the radial port, aradial inlet tube on the hub communicating with the annular portand'having an inlet port therein, a \alve on the tuhe adapted to bethrown centrifugallv to open the inlet port, and an adjustable springnormally holding the valve inward to clos-e the inlet port.

v HARRY J. HNHK.. Witnesses:

Louise M. Coney, EARL C. (LmLsoNf

